There is a history of the term ?nature monument? in the German science and nature conservation practice between the end of XVIII century and 1920th in the article. According to the German scientists going into this question, stages of the concept extension in theory and practice are briefly classified and the first term using cases are described. The main events of nature protection history in Germany and key works are referred. There is an analysis of the nature monuments in German Empire created to the end of the First World War
